Hair Braiding Schools in Alabama

Browse our directory of hair braiding schools in Alabama, or skip ahead to learn about the state's hair braiding licensing requirements and job outlook.

How to Become a Hair Braider in Alabama

There are many ways to style hair, and as the United States becomes a more diverse country, more international trends are catching on! Hair braiding is a practice that originated in west Africa, where each region has its own styles and techniques. Many customers love the comfort and durability of hair braiding, so you may have an eager client base when you finish your braiding training. If you love making others look beautiful, and have a genuine interest in hair braiding, contact the beauty schools in your area to learn more!

State License Requirements

To get your hair braiding license from the Alabama Board of Cosmetology, you must pass a rigorous set of exams. Though the Board of Cosmetology does not have education requirements for braiders, you must pass a written exam and a practical exam.

Education Details

You can learn about hair braiding in Alabama in many different settings, including cosmetology schools, braiding schools, and self-employed instructors. They may start by teaching you about the different qualities of the hair and how to determine the features of each client's hair. Being able to quickly assess the length, texture, and styling needs of hair can help you decide on the proper styling techniques for each client. Once you've learned how to assess hair, your instructors may start teaching you how to perform different braiding styles. This isn't just about memorizing each braid and which piece goes where. It's also about using the right amount of pressure, tightness, and spacing for each client's preferences and hair needs. To make you feel confident with different types of hair, you may practice each braiding style on various types of hair. Some of the braiding styles you may learn include single braids, cornrows, twists, locks, and knots. On top of mastering these skills with natural hair, you may also learn how to incorporate extensions in braiding.

License Renewal

Natural hair styling licenses in Alabama must be renewed every two years during odd-numbered years by the last day of your birth month. No continuing education hours are required for other standard beauty practitioner licenses in Alabama as long as your cosmetology license is renewed on time. If your license is expired for three or more years, you must re-take the practical exam. The cost is $80 to renew on time, or $130 if you are renewing late. Alabama recently began allowing online renewals.

Alabama Hair Braiding Careers

Job growth in Alabama is promising for cosmetology professionals! Alabama has a fairly diverse population with a range of hair needs, so the demand for hair braiding professionals may be higher than it is in other states. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net expects job openings for beauty professionals to increase by 13%. The job outlook may be more promising in large cities where people tend to go for their hair care needs. With hair braiding skills, you may be able to work in a salon or open your own shop. Cosmetology salaries differ significantly from person to person, particularly due to the fact that tips may make up a big part of your income. O*Net indicates that most beauty professionals in Alabama earn between $16,400 and $37,100 per year. The average salary in this profession is $21,000 per year (O*Net, 2013).

Hair braiding is a diverse, exciting career that can bring you great joy and satisfaction if you work hard at it. First, it gives you the opportunity to always keep learning. There are hundreds of styles of hair braiding out there, and you can spend your downtime learning about them or even creating your new styles. In addition, you get to spend lots of one-on-one time with customers. If your customer wants an elaborate design or has long hair, you could easily spend several hours braiding their hair. Once you build a bond with a customer, you get to keep seeing them! If you impress a client, they may come back to you time and time again for touchups, new braids, and other styling needs. You may wish to work in a braiding shop or salon to learn from experienced braiders. The owner of Kollo's Hair Braiding notes that much of her education came from watching other long-time braiders work their magic. This experience gave her the opportunity to open her own hair braiding salon and build her own loyal customer base. As you become well-known for your braiding skills, you too could become a major part of your local beauty community!

Contact the Alabama State Board of Cosmetology

Alabama is a state where personal hairstyles are a vibrant sense of expression. Hair stylists there pride themselves on crafting attractive styles, especially with hair braiding. Many who are interested in learning how, consult these groups.

Association of Independent Artists
International Hair Braiders, Weavers and Natural Hair Association